Pocketwatches

[M Hatman]

I really like that shaped case!

Is this a 12-size "gentleman's" watch?

Yes...that case really attracted me too.....
And yes, it is one of those 12 size gentleman's watches. Crystal is surprisingly firm.....watch has a nice sturdy weight to it.
M

 

[viclip]

I need to find out more about this 15 jewel Supreme, two adjustments . I was really drawn to the dial on this. Simular to the Elgin above, it has a 14K white gold filled case.
M
View attachment 114051

Good looking hanger, the dial reminds me of those used by Illinois in the 1920s/30s.

Are you able to identify whether the movement is American- or Swiss-style?

 

[M Hatman]

Marked

Good looking hanger, the dial reminds me of those used by Illinois in the 1920s/30s.

Are you able to identify whether the movement is American- or Swiss-style?

Marked 15 jewels, Supreme, Langendorf, W.Co, swiss
M

 

[viclip]

Marked

Marked 15 jewels, Supreme, Langendorf, W.Co, swiss
M

Evidently the Langendorf Watch Co. was quite a player in its day, continuing production until the height of the "Quartz Crisis" ~

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langendorf_Watch_Company_SA

 

[BobHufford]

Well ... I figure this is a good place to start. Found it at the bottom of my wife’s jewelry safe. I think it belonged to her great-grandfather and was apparently stored in a drawer with old rubber bands (the verdigris easily came off).

It winds and sets, but doesn’t “run”. Yay! A project!

 

[viclip]

Well ... I figure this is a good place to start. Found it at the bottom of my wife’s jewelry safe. I think it belonged to her great-grandfather and was apparently stored in a drawer with old rubber bands (the verdigris easily came off).

It winds and sets, but doesn’t “run”. Yay! A project!

Congrats on a nice find, with known provenance. I hope that you have the watch serviced & that it becomes a family heirloom to be passed on to future generations.

The watch looks to be complete with a great dial & spade hands. That it winds & sets is an excellent sign, I suspect that the oil gummed up years ago, stopping the movement.

Does the balance nicely spin for a while when you smartly rotate the watch?

One thing that I noticed is that the movement had been taken out by someone. Both case screws are in the release position, which so signifies.

 

[BobHufford]

Does the balance nicely spin for a while when you smartly rotate the watch?

One thing that I noticed is that the movement had been taken out by someone. Both case screws are in the release position, which so signifies.

Thanks viclip!

Yes, it does spin for 5 to 10 seconds. I see what you mean about the case screws. Interesting...

 

[viclip]

Thanks viclip!

Yes, it does spin for 5 to 10 seconds. I see what you mean about the case screws. Interesting...

That the balance spins freely is excellent news, hopefully all that the watch needs is a cleaning & lube job.

I just wanted to mention one thing about the hands. The hour/minute spade hands are certainly original to your 18s Model 1883, or if they were replaced back in the day then they are dead nuts for Waltham substitutes. However that seconds hand sure doesn't look original to me, I would have expected something along the lines as seen on the same model watch a shot whereof I posted in the thread "Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread" on February 27, 2017. Here's a link thereto which may or may not work for you depending upon your thread settings:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/lets-see-your-watches-the-vintage-watch-thread.11124/page-126

Anyways before having the watch submitted for overhaul, you might want to scour eBay in order to locate the correct seconds hand, whether NOS or off of a parts movement. Your watchmaker could then install it for you when re-assembling the watch.

Best wishes for the successful conclusion of your project ... do keep us posted!

 

[BobHufford]

That the balance spins freely is excellent news, hopefully all that the watch needs is a cleaning & lube job.

I just wanted to mention one thing about the hands. The hour/minute spade hands are certainly original to your 18s Model 1883, or if they were replaced back in the day then they are dead nuts for Waltham substitutes. However that seconds hand sure doesn't look original to me, I would have expected something along the lines as seen on the same model watch a shot whereof I posted in the thread "Let's See Your Watches!

Thanks again viclip! I do see that the second hand was replaced (might explain why the case screws are in "release"). I'll surely get that remedied when getting the watch serviced.

 

[viclip]

LANGENDORF WATCH CO "LANCO"

M Hatman recently posted his 15j "Supreme" pocket watch which had been manufactured by the large Swiss LANgendorf Watch CO. In researching that company I discovered that they also produced the "Lanco" model, being a truncation of its name. Anyways I had the opportunity to bid on a reasonably priced Lanco pocket watch last week & here it is:

It sports a 15j Swiss movement housed in a nickel case, with a white hot glass enamel dial. I'm partial to the Canadian dial style, which this one obviously has.

Anyways the watch works fine & is in the queue for servicing by my watchmaker. My new acquisitions are always overhauled before entering daily service.

 

[Absinthe_1900]

I don't know much about this one my Grandfather owned, other than it's an Elgin, possibly from the 20's or 30s. (maybe)
It still runs, and keeps good time.

 

[viclip]

I don't know much about this one my Grandfather owned, other than it's an Elgin, possibly from the 20's or 30s. (maybe)
It still runs, and keeps good time.

That's a good looking outfit with plenty of provenance, a real family heirloom.

If you know how to remove the back cover, the serial number on the watch's movement can be inputted into an online database producing oodles of information about the watch including its manufacture date.

 

[Absinthe_1900]

I've not tried to remove the back cover, I wasn't sure if it pried, off or unscrewed, and did not want to do anything that might mar the case.

I need to run it by a watch shop to have them open it to get the details on it.

I also have a silver cigarette case that he carried with the watch that he may have gotten around the same time, that is rather novel. It's a KleverKase cigarette case, with an unusual way of holding it's contents.

I don't smoke, but it's a neat case.

 

[BobHufford]

So ... the Waltham 1883 / No. 820 up above is now at Bill Marshall's being serviced.

My wife came up with this one as well. She thinks it belonged to her step-dad's grandfather, but not sure.

U.S. Watch Co., Waltham, Mass. From what I can find it is from 1891, but there is little info (or my Google fu is bad). Deuber gold filled hunter case. Missing crystal and a couple hands. Not functional. 4s or 5s size.

Not sure what to do with it at this point.

 

[viclip]

Wow, another very nice family heirloom has surfaced!

You have a 6-size 7-jewel hunting configuration pocket watch. Such watches were generally favored by women in 1891/1892 when your watch was made, however men would also carry them particularly if seeking a more refined or elegant look. Ladies' watches were generally pendant set rather than lever set, I can't tell from the pics which setting method applies to your specimen.

The U.S. Watch Co. (Waltham) was only around for about 20 years before being acquired by other watchmaking concerns, so their output isn't come upon very frequently.

I suspect that the crystal was broken & the minutes & seconds hands damaged or lost, in the same incident i.e. a sharp blow (the front cover is usually thin metal which flexes when hit or even pressed). It wouldn't surprise me if the balance staff had one or both of its pivots bent or snapped at the same time, which would explain why the watch doesn't run. Does the balance swing freely &/or is the watch "fully wound"?

In any event these items can be replaced & the watch made functional again. Original hands or even balance staffs can sometimes be found in NOS condition on eBay, or else salvaged from a "parts watch"; plus a good watchmaker can turn a replacement staff on a lathe. Replacement glass crystals are still out there in the millions, but you should leave finding a crystal let alone replacing it, to your watchmaker because those for hunting cases are a bit tricky to replace due to varying height measurements required to clear the front cover while at the same time not interfering with the hands.

And that case is most impressive, it doesn't seem brassed, with great decoration. Looks like the shield is red gold-filled to stand out against the yellow gold-filled body. You're super fortunate to still have the original Dueber watch paper tucked away inside the back cover, I'd be sure to safeguard that! The paper is likely brittle by now so it shouldn't be removed, just preserved in place.

Personally if this was my heirloom watch, I'd have it restored & kept in the family. You can bet that I'd also wear it, if only for special occasions. Actually since you already have the larger Waltham to wear, maybe you could talk your wife into sporting the U.S. Watch Co. piece, after all it was considered a "lady's watch" back in the 1890s & worn either on a brooch, as a pendant, tucked behind a sash, stashed in a pocket made for the purpose, among other modes of carry.

Again, let us know the outcome, this is interesting stuff ...

 

[BobHufford]

Wow, another very nice family heirloom has surfaced!

You have a 6-size 7-jewel hunting configuration pocket watch. Such watches were generally favored by women in 1891/1892 when your watch was made, however men would also carry them particularly if seeking a more refined or elegant look. Ladies' watches were generally pendant set rather than lever set, I can't tell from the pics which setting method applies to your specimen.

The U.S. Watch Co. (Waltham) was only around for about 20 years before being acquired by other watchmaking concerns, so their output isn't come upon very frequently.

I suspect that the crystal was broken & the minutes & seconds hands damaged or lost, in the same incident i.e. a sharp blow (the front cover is usually thin metal which flexes when hit or even pressed). It wouldn't surprise me if the balance staff had one or both of its pivots bent or snapped at the same time, which would explain why the watch doesn't run. Does the balance swing freely &/or is the watch "fully wound"?

In any event these items can be replaced & the watch made functional again. Original hands or even balance staffs can sometimes be found in NOS condition on eBay, or else salvaged from a "parts watch"; plus a good watchmaker can turn a replacement staff on a lathe. Replacement glass crystals are still out there in the millions, but you should leave finding a crystal let alone replacing it, to your watchmaker because those for hunting cases are a bit tricky to replace due to varying height measurements required to clear the front cover while at the same time not interfering with the hands.

And that case is most impressive, it doesn't seem brassed, with great decoration. Looks like the shield is red gold-filled to stand out against the yellow gold-filled body. You're super fortunate to still have the original Dueber watch paper tucked away inside the back cover, I'd be sure to safeguard that! The paper is likely brittle by now so it shouldn't be removed, just preserved in place.

Personally if this was my heirloom watch, I'd have it restored & kept in the family. You can bet that I'd also wear it, if only for special occasions. Actually since you already have the larger Waltham to wear, maybe you could talk your wife into sporting the U.S. Watch Co. piece, after all it was considered a "lady's watch" back in the 1890s & worn either on a brooch, as a pendant, tucked behind a sash, stashed in a pocket made for the purpose, among other modes of carry.

Again, let us know the outcome, this is interesting stuff ...

Thanks for the excellent response Viclip! The balance does move on occasion as I move the watch around. Not sure if I would call that "freely". I did not attempt to touch or push it. Another possible clue that this was a woman's watch is that it was on a stand. Not sure if the stand is that old.

 

[viclip]

Yes a balance that sort of balkingly turns in increments, often has bad pivots &/or one or both of its hole jewels cracked. Your watchmaker will be able to quickly make the determination after removing the balance. These are common repairs, bearing in mind that balance staff pivots on a 6s watch are about 1/10 th of a millimetre in diameter.

Well, the watch stand just adds that much more to the provence of your latest find. I'm not sure that the existence of the stand necessarily means that the watch was originally owned by a woman. Both sexes used them when the watch wasn't being worn, especially at night when the watches were kept in stands on nearby bed tables functioning as small clocks.

 

[BobHufford]

Here are a couple of my Dad’s. I had thought they might be long time family heirlooms, but Mom said that Dad had bought the Elgin to use in his Civil War re-enactments and then later found the Wm. Ellery to play that roll.

Dad is on the right.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I have a few but don't recall posting them here before except maybe as props in hat pics. This is my fancy dial Elgin on a horn tip chain. Sorry for the quality of these pics from my files.

 

[viclip]

Here are a couple of my Dad’s. I had thought they might be long time family heirlooms, but Mom said that Dad had bought the Elgin to use in his Civil War re-enactments and then later found the Wm. Ellery to play that roll.

Dad is on the right.

I am partial to these old 18s full plate hunting-configured pocket watches which are wound & set using a key. There's just something about them, harkening back to a different era.

That Ellery which was made in 1864, could very well have been carried by a combatant in the American Civil War. After some initial hesitancy (which led to the parting of ways of one of the company's founders), the young Waltham Watch Co. targetted the huge market composed of Union troops, recognizing the desirability if not the necessity for them to be able to know the time courtesy of affordable timepieces.

I hope that you'll have both the Elgin Wheeler & the Waltham Ellery serviced &/or restored as the case may be. You'll find them to be quite the conversation starters, just try winding one up in public!

When was the photo of your father taken & have you kept up the family tradition?